Brilliant Finch guides Victoria home
Aaron Finch delivered a remarkable last-over win for Victoria, who made the third-highest successful chase in Australian domestic one-day history
Cricinfo staff07-Nov-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAaron Finch (right) scored a run-a-ball 87•Getty Images
Aaron Finch delivered a remarkable last-over win for Victoria, who made the third-highest successful chase in Australian domestic one-day history to deny Tasmania at the MCG. The Bushrangers needed 301 to overhaul the Tasmanian total set up by Rhett Lockyear’s maiden century, and the chase was brilliantly put back on track by Finch after the loss of key wickets.Victoria lost the usual suspects – Brad Hodge for 42, David Hussey (8) and Chris Rogers (19) – before the halfway mark and Tasmania appeared set for a healthy victory. But Finch combined with Matthew Wade, who made 30, and John Hastings for two critical partnerships that guided the home side to the point where they needed six from the final over.Finch confirmed the result with four balls to spare with a six over long-on from Brett Geeves to finish unbeaten on 87 from 87 deliveries. In his seven previous one-day matches, Finch’s top score was 33, but on this occasion he showed his power and poise to reinvigorate Victoria when their required run-rate blew out to more than ten an over.The Finch-Hastings partnership was the last chance for Victoria before the tailenders and they combined for an unbeaten 75. Hastings finished with 41 from 28 deliveries and provided a couple of key moments when he launched Jason Krejza for six and then struck consecutive fours off Geeves in the 48th over.It gave Victoria their highest successful chase in domestic 50-over cricket and behind only two South Australian efforts over the past two summers. The result took some of the gloss of what had been a remarkable match for Tasmania’s Lockyear, who, like Finch, came of age in this game.Lockyear was only playing because the allrounder Luke Butterworth strained a glute muscle during the week. He made the most of his opportunity opening the batting, striking 111 from 98 deliveries before he became tired and skied a catch off Bryce McGain.George Bailey (63) and Travis Birt (66) kept Tasmania on track for a huge total, which frustrated Victoria’s captain David Hussey after he put down one of the simplest return catches imaginable when Bailey had 30. It didn’t matter in the end as Victoria proved they can win without big contributions from Hodge and Hussey, and they now sit second on the table.